Servite College in Tuart Hill played host to Year 9-12 Catholic students from across WA on 9 September for the Laudato Si’ Youth Summit. Seventy-three students attended the day in person with a further 88 students attending online.
19 Sep 2025
WA Catholic schools gather for Laudato Si’ Youth Summit
Students were involved in selecting the topics before the agenda was put together. On the day, students delivered the Prayer, introductions of presenters, and the closing Liturgy.
Topics included a First Nations perspective on sustainability, ethical sourcing and sustainability in coffee, a sustainable clothing hub, the intersection of generative AI and environmental stewardship through the lens of Laudato Si’, and solutions on how to maintain momentum with ecological initiatives.
Attendees also heard about the work of the Tangaroa Blue Foundation, an Australian registered charity which works to prevent and remove marine debris in Australia and across regions. Finally, Peter Lang from Caritas New Zealand shared his journey into advocacy and his work with the Caritas Internationalis Youth Working Group.
“I enjoyed connecting with students from other schools, I found the Youth Summit to be a good opportunity to talk to people I wouldn’t usually talk to.”
Ada (Our Lady of Mercy College).
Catholic Education WA’s Director Religious Education, Rev Mark Powell also spoke at the Summit.
Rev Powell chaired the Working Party which helped develop CEWA’s Laudato Si’ Sustainability Strategy to fulfil both its Catholic Church obligations, as set out in the Fifth Plenary Council Decree 8, and meet its obligations as an incorporated entity.
“This is YOUR Summit. As you are all very aware, this process has been driven by you: the students. You have given us input on the topics you wanted to see addressed today, and you are also all taking on various roles: from guiding people around the college grounds, helping out behind the scenes, or introducing speakers at the sessions today and leading liturgy.
“Thank you – students and teachers – for making this day possible.” said Rev Powell.
In addition to Servite College and Our Lady of Mercy College there were representatives from Prendiville Catholic College, Chisholm Catholic College, Ursula Frayne Catholic College, St Mary Star of the Sea College, Mater Dei College, and Kolbe Catholic College.
“I participated in the Sustainable Clothing and Young People Working in Oceania sessions, both being very informational and amazing learning experiences.
“The staff and students from the other schools in attendance were amazing to talk to, and I managed to meet a few people who, like me, are passionate about creating change in society. The staff and students from Servite College were welcoming and hospitable to all of us,” said Our Lady of Mercy student, Thomas.
The Laudato Si’ Youth Summit is inspired by the Encyclical Laudato Si’, written in 2015 by the late Pope Francis. In the spirit of Laudato Si’, participating schools mainly chose public transport to travel to Servite College.